LIVE: Bulldogs, Jackets vie for more than bragging rights
The early scene from Sanford Stadium, site for the final regular season game for Georgia and Tech.
ATHENS — Good morning. Before we get to the game, I have a small request: Let’s be civil.
I understand emotions (and beer) often cause sports fans to jump the rails a little bit. Because we will have both Georgia and Georgia Tech fans on this blog, the chance for a verbal inferno becomes even greater.
But the same rules apply: no profanity, no profanity that is cleverly disguised with punctuation marks, no racist comments, no sexual innuendo, no stealing of screen names to give the impression that somebody wrote something when they really didn’t, no … well, you get the idea. You can praise, mock, laud and criticize all you like. But let me share something an old editor of mine once told me: If you have to ask, “Can I write this?” the answer is probably no.
Fair enough?
OK, onto the game. Georgia and Georgia Tech is, first and foremost, always about 364 days of bragging rights. But it’s so much more than that today.
– Georgia needs a win to keep hopes alive for a berth in the BCS title. That’s also contingent on the Bulldogs upsetting Alabama in the SEC championship game next week. The Dogs would still play for the conference title even if they were to be upset by the Jackets. But obviously a lot of steam would come out of the game, and certainly it would deflate the fan base.
– Georgia Tech needs a win for a credibility boost and, in that sense. It also would give Jackets fans some hope for the ACC championship game against Florida State and/or a better bowl game. Tech has won three straight. But it has been a largely rocky season and they slipped into the Coastal Division title and a conference championship berth through the backdoor, benefiting from Miami’s decision to bow out in hopes of minimizing expected NCAA sanctions.
Georgia fans have reason to be concerned: Even though the Dogs have shown themselves to be the better and more talented team, there’s a possibility of players being distracted by all of the SEC and BCS talk.
Georgia Tech fans have reason to be concerned: Even with the late-season bounce back and the added skills that quarterback Vad Lee brings to the lineup, the Jackets’ defense hasn’t stopped anybody. Georgia has a balanced offense led by quarterback Aaron Murray (12 touchdowns, zero interceptions since the fourth quarter against Florida) and freshman running backs Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall.
Bottom line: This is a rivalry game, and strange things often occur in rivalry games. At the risk of sounding cliche, I suspect Tech’s best chance to win today will be based on turnovers and winning the special teams battle. Georgia probably also doesn’t want to get into a scoring battle (as was the case in 2008, when the Jackets won 45-42). Red zone production is key for both teams.
That’s it for now. Have fun all. I’m here to serve.
And with that, the cyber venting lines are open.
By Jeff Schultz
Post-Thanksgiving blog blowout sale
• Upsetting Georgia would give Tech needed boost for future
• Weekend Predictions: Georgia will win on Red-and-Black-Saturday
• Vince Dooley: Joy from Georgia’s resurgence, pain from son’s firing
• Wonder why SEC is on top? Look at other conference finals
• Falcons win — but run before somebody changes their mind
• Short takes: Ryan awful, defense great, win important
• Georgia’s new reality: From on the brink to BCS title possibility
• Upsets launch Georgia into BCS title picture (updated game column)
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,171 comments Add your comment
rivercard
November 24th, 2012
1:00 pm
YankeeDawgDroppings – if you were capable of reading you would see that I said earlier not a fan of either team. Let me guess – doctorate from Georgia?
EastCobbRick
November 24th, 2012
1:00 pm
CPJ just gave the game away! No confidence in his defense.
Iluvnutella
November 24th, 2012
1:00 pm
Pile it on Dwaggies…..we need all the ammo we can muster to get Fish-fry off the Flats.
5150 UOAD
November 24th, 2012
1:01 pm
All the VAD lovers I like you BUT VAD isn’t there yet. This game could make him grow but he has to READ better and CJP has to make the PASS scary.
Demosthenes
November 24th, 2012
1:01 pm
Short field or long field seems irrelevant at this point.
ignition
November 24th, 2012
1:01 pm
at least try to pass …
Tim
November 24th, 2012
1:01 pm
If UGA scores a TD on this drive, how close is game to being over, Jeff?
Josh Chapman
November 24th, 2012
1:01 pm
Vad Lee= The next Reggie Ball
italian_29
November 24th, 2012
1:01 pm
Looks like it is going to be a LONG day for Tech and their fans. Go Dawgs!
Will
November 24th, 2012
1:02 pm
Hey Tech fans, when will YOU LEARN that UGA OWNS you! With the way recruiting is going, Tech will struggle beating UGA for the next few years…or at least till you get rid of Paul Johnson. It’s getting easier and easier to catch up to what he’s doing which is why you’ve lost every bowl game you’ve played under him.
JB
November 24th, 2012
1:02 pm
Like little leage, might have to call this soon.
buzzDawg
November 24th, 2012
1:02 pm
The best thing so far . . . the Dawgs came out strong and firing on all cylinders, both offense and defense. They seem to have shaken off the start of the game doldrums since the Florida game. They have a chance to get past Alabama and to the championship game if they continue to play up to their potential.
1 4 GT
November 24th, 2012
1:02 pm
Jeff….you must define acronym for Georgie fans.
Iluvnutella
November 24th, 2012
1:02 pm
@ RunninwitheDwaggies…..not-so-fast my friend. Your coaching against Fis-fry, Turkey neck…..the BEST D2 coaaawch in the USA.
GTBob
November 24th, 2012
1:02 pm
CPJ just gave the game away! No confidence in his defense.
lol. Should he have confidence?
Bc400dawg
November 24th, 2012
1:02 pm
Sorry Jeff I’m new to this
phil
November 24th, 2012
1:02 pm
You Tech folk are truly sad and pathetic….
Only program I ever heard of that REMOVED seats from its already pitiful stadium. Just go Christmas shoping with your significant others and give up now.
Turkeyneck
November 24th, 2012
1:02 pm
GT BOB:
That play works, if you’re not playing a great D like UGA. You’re an excuse maker.
Hahhahahahahahah
glory between the hedges
November 24th, 2012
1:02 pm
The talent level between these two schools is so onesided
playmeortrademe
November 24th, 2012
1:02 pm
If Tech loses, are they even bowl eligible if they lose ACC Champ? ESPN doesn’t show them as bowl eligible on their site.
EastCobbRick
November 24th, 2012
1:02 pm
I hope the Dawgs do not score too many points or CPJ just MIGHT get fired. I like him where he is…
Since Vince
November 24th, 2012
1:03 pm
Come on Richt UGA needs Style Points!
kingdaddy
November 24th, 2012
1:03 pm
Jeffey
Got your hands full for this one. Probably going to get worse as the alcohol flows. Go Michigan. Oww, Mustang Sally just slapped me. Stupid Buckeyes…
ignition
November 24th, 2012
1:03 pm
Vince Dooly is/was completely overated …
5150 UOAD
November 24th, 2012
1:03 pm
I’ll take it.
GTBob
November 24th, 2012
1:03 pm
With the way recruiting is going, Tech will struggle beating UGA for the next few years…or at least till you get rid of Paul Johnson
So you think when we get rid of CPJ that we will start beating UGA regularly?
Mike Franklin
November 24th, 2012
1:03 pm
Getting greedy there… looking long… too long.
5150 UOAD
November 24th, 2012
1:04 pm
Molly Ringwald? flagged
Hairy Dawg
November 24th, 2012
1:04 pm
Wer’e beating the bugs like the sorry patsies they ares. Now we spend next 3 qtrs practices for Bammer and that sorry dirt bag Sabans.
Go Dawgs! Sick Em!
son's who?
November 24th, 2012
1:04 pm
That sack was on Murray, Great hustle by Attaboy though
5150 UOAD
November 24th, 2012
1:05 pm
Watts “Your Daddy” on the Play.
playmeortrademe
November 24th, 2012
1:05 pm
So UGA going for the killshot, but they really should be running the ball and taking up some time. Defense has been on the field for a while.
Jeff Schultz
November 24th, 2012
1:05 pm
Georgia first punt.
Will
November 24th, 2012
1:05 pm
@ Gtbob, no I don’t but GT has no shot vs. UGA in the coming years because CPJ cannot recruit well enough.
phil
November 24th, 2012
1:05 pm
Pitiful offensive effort there….
Boooooooooooo!
kingdaddy
November 24th, 2012
1:05 pm
Murray looks good today. Very calm…
Jefferson Davis Hogg
November 24th, 2012
1:05 pm
GTBob was wrong
glory between the hedges
November 24th, 2012
1:06 pm
Conley has got to catch that
ignition
November 24th, 2012
1:06 pm
Attachou the only player on GT that will get a sniff of the NFL..
Will
November 24th, 2012
1:06 pm
The only reason Tech got off the field there is because of flags by UGA. If not for that holding call on Burnette #68, then UGA probably still has the ball right now.
GTBob
November 24th, 2012
1:06 pm
I stand corrected on my punts prediction.
Steve
November 24th, 2012
1:06 pm
Jeff can we get an early UGA/Bama prediction?
son's who?
November 24th, 2012
1:07 pm
I love sarcastic phil.
5150 UOAD
November 24th, 2012
1:07 pm
Counter Trap play and then a Roll pocket pass play. Go for it but VAD make the READ.
jack bull
November 24th, 2012
1:07 pm
that’s where we lack the killer instinct….bad set of downs.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
November 24th, 2012
1:07 pm
UGA should go with two TE’s and just run the ball for they would score at least 50 on GT and run the clock as well. GT football is no threat to UGA.
Lil' Barry Bailout
November 24th, 2012
1:07 pm
There’s no excuse for Tech not recruiting better players on defense.
billyho55
November 24th, 2012
1:07 pm
REGGIE BALL COULDN’T TOUCH VAD LEE! C’MON MAN, ANYONE WITH DECENT KNOWLEDGE OF THE GAME WOULD KNOW THAT!
phil
November 24th, 2012
1:08 pm
ignition
November 24th, 2012
1:03 pm
Vince Dooly is/was completely overated …
*********
yes. Clearly. His 6 SEC titles, national title and 201 wins were a fine example of mediocrity.
How stupid are you?
USMC DAWG
November 24th, 2012
1:08 pm
I have a huge amount of respect for Georgia Tech and I think Paul Johnson is a great X’s & O’s coach, but I see a large discrepancy in the quality of Athletes between UGA and GT. Is it just me?
We have got to keep our boot on GT’s neck for the entire game, sorry.
Go Dawgs!